How Mobile Apps are Changing the Future of the eCommerce Industry

How Mobile Apps are Altering the Future of the eCommerce Industry

The penetration of mobile phones in our lives has increased exponentially. It is common to see a mobile version of everything these days. A similar notion applies to the eCommerce industry. The mobile revolution has enhanced the way retailers and business owners interact with their customers. The need for billboards and print advertisements has almost diminished. Instead, retailers use apps to reach a broad audience efficiently. Plus, it opens up new avenues by reaching potential customers across the globe due to which demand for mobile eCommerce has increased.

Since the dawn of online shopping several years ago, the industry has constantly evolved by using newer technologies and innovations to attract customers and turn them into loyal patrons. And with the pandemic in play, we have noticed an explosion in the eCommerce industry as customers rely on online shopping even for their slightest demands. As has grown the use of mobile apps proportionally due to the rise in Mobile Shopping. In support of this statement, a study states that the value of the global mobile application market size was at $154.05b in 2019 and is expected to witness a compound annual growth of 11.5% from 2020 through 2027. Also, about 67% of the consumers have downloaded a retailer’s app to carry out purchases in the eCommerce industry. Hence, the boom in mobile-apps-based eCommerce makes sense.

This article will paint a broad picture of the massive advantages of investing in excellent eCommerce mobile application development and how these apps can alter the eCommerce scene.

How can businesses benefit from mobile apps?

The advantages of mobile applications for eCommerce can be gauged from the fact that there were only 800 apps for people to be downloaded in the year 2008 when the app market started. Whereas, at the moment, there are more than 22 million apps available in the market. Let us dive into the most loved advantages of retailers using mobile apps.

Dedicated and streamlined customer experience

Mobile apps are generally designed for a couple of services only, unlike a website that caters to many services. Hence, mobile apps work better in rendering filtered and relevant information to the customers. Most mobile apps are user-friendly and provide a streamlined experience for the customers than mobile websites or desktop versions.

Apps can leverage mobile features

A mobile app allows retailers to provide the customers with refined services that no website can match. Mobile apps can leverage mobile features like GPS, Bluetooth, Camera, and many more to deliver highly customized content and effortless relevant services. For instance, the mobile onboard camera is usually used to scan QR codes and barcodes, giving users easy access to mobile payments.

It can be accessed offline

Unlike websites, apps can work offline without an active internet connection. In case of an intermittent or no connection or when a user is at a remote location, they can still use some or all features of the app that are available offline. Retailers must keep in mind to include some offline features during their mobile eCommerce app development too.

Faster loading time, easy navigation

Mobile apps are easy to operate and load faster. Hence they are highly preferred in the eCommerce industry. Users do not have to go through the tedious process of opening up the browser, typing the URL, on top of that, waiting for the page to load. It is much easier to click on the app icon. On top of that, what if the website is not mobile-responsive? Opening up such a website in the mobile browser can be very troublesome. Hence, it is always straightforward to navigate using mobile apps.

How are mobile apps changing the future of the eCommerce industry?

Mobile apps are intuitive and, paired with the latest technologies and future trends, can render some of the best customer experiences. Let us see how these apps are changing the eCommerce landscape.

Messaging Apps

Chat capabilities are the new normal in most of the eCommerce apps at the moment. These apps can be equipped with real customer service executives or chatbots. The prevalence of chat capabilities in these apps has raised customer expectations while enhancing the overall experience.

AI and voice assistants

If you are an avid mobile app user, you must not be unfamiliar with voice assistants like Google, Siri, and Alexa. Businesses have leveraged these voice assistants to change the entire eCommerce scene. Aiding from search to purchases, these ladies on smartphones and in-home devices have effectively rendered personalization amongst the customers while elevating the customer experience.

Location-based services

The mobile GPS can be leveraged by the apps and help in providing location-based services to the customers. Store-locators are good examples of the same and can be used when a company is panned across a country or the globe. Retailers can also send notifications to their customers in the vicinity of a store, providing an offer or a discount. This will improve the conversion rate and also increase the awareness of brands amongst potential customers.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality is being extensively used in the eCommerce industry, playing a definitive role. A real-time environment is leveraged by the companies to fully present their merchandise and products to any customer, enabling instant conversion.

Image Searches

Image searches have too changed the eCommerce experience a great deal. Customers can now take the image of a product and search for all the available eCommerce options, leading to a more holistic eCommerce experience.

What can an eCommerce company do to leverage mobile apps?

According to a survey, about 89% of eCommerce consumers prefer mobile apps to mobile websites to complete their purchases. This makes it evident that mobile indulgence is at an all-time high. It is an opportunity for both eCommerce giants and small businesses to increase their revenue as there is no going back from mobile applications in eCommerce. Therefore, business owners should turn their website eCommerce store into a mobile app and optimize their online shops for different devices and display sizes to provide a genuinely personalized eCommerce experience.

Hence, companies should plan their investment in mobile application development for their eCommerce businesses if they want to remain in the competition.

How to develop a mobile application for your eCommerce business?

These days many companies are going for DIY mobile applications for their businesses. But not only do these amateur mobile apps lack the optimization levels expected by today’s tech-savvy customers, but they also reduce the business as they are not effective. Hence, it is always recommended to look for a professional eCommerce mobile application development company with ample experience and expertise in the domain.

Krish TechoLabs is one such eCommerce Agency, panning globally, and has experience and expertise in developing highly functional mobile applications for their esteemed clients. They ensure that their clients’ future is secured when changing technologies and keeping up the pace. You can either ask for a mobile accelerator or a custom-made mobile application, as per your requirement and budget.

What is a Mobile Accelerator by Krish?

The Magento Mobile Accelerator by Krish provides you with a fully functional mobile application for your eCommerce business within four weeks. It gives a B2C React Native Mobile app for Magento 2 stores in a short period. Equipped with a set of pre-coded functionalities, it is developed to take your eCommerce business to the next level. The mobile accelerator by Krish is perfect for retailers who are looking forward to accelerating their sales across multiple channels and geographies by leveraging this quick-launch app approach.

eCommerce

Shivi Rao is a content marketer with Krish. She has worked in various industries spanning technology, science, rural marketing, startups & unicorns, eCommerce business, and digital marketing, believing that content is the foundation to facilitate the visibility of any organization and ensuring her words do the same. In her free time, you can either find her lifting weights in the gym or feeding the strays.

How to Choose the Shopify eCommerce Development Company in 2023

21 December, 2022 After WooCommerce, Shopify is the 2nd most loved and used eCommerce platform worldwide. Shopify is an entirely feature-rich eCommerce platform. It offers many drag-and-drop options, and its apps work tremendously for store owners. In addition, Shopify is easy to use as it doesn't require depth coding.

4 min read By: Zenul Jinwala

Back To Insights